Popular Galveston beach to unveil $1.6M makeover for Memorial Day

Updated 3:18 pm, Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Photo: Vadim Troshkin

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Galveston's new East Beach Pavilion

Galveston's new East Beach Pavilion

Photo: Vadim Troshkin

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Jim Chen, left, Angelina Ross, center, and Brey Tucker, right, work on their sand sculpture themed Dunes Day At the Beach during the 26th annual AIA SandCastle Competition on Galveston's East Beach Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Galveston. Each team used different tools ranging from shovels, just their hands and feet, and customized tools to shape their castles.

Jim Chen, left, Angelina Ross, center, and Brey Tucker, right, work on their sand sculpture themed Dunes Day At the Beach during the 26th annual AIA SandCastle Competition on Galveston's East Beach Saturday,

A team works on their sand sculpture themed "2012 Is This The End...?" during the 26th annual AIA SandCastle Competition on Galveston's East Beach Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Galveston.

A team works on their sand sculpture themed "2012 Is This The End...?" during the 26th annual AIA SandCastle Competition on Galveston's East Beach Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Galveston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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A completed sand castle waits to be judged during the 23rd annual AIA Sandcastle Competition at Galveston's East Beach.

A completed sand castle waits to be judged during the 23rd annual AIA Sandcastle Competition at Galveston's East Beach.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Chronicle

Popular Galveston beach to unveil $1.6M makeover for Memorial Day

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After undergoing a $1.6 million reconstruction, Galveston's East Beach will unveil a new pavilion, boardwalk and entertainment stage Memorial Day weekend during a grand re-opening celebration.

The May 25 event will feature free festivities that include five live concerts from 2-8 p.m., hosted by The Buzz 94.5 FM on the Bud Light Stage. Headliners will be Houston-area bands The Last Place You Look, Who is BC and Lost Element.

Other free activities will include a beach bonfire and a fireworks show at dusk.

Beach-goers will be able to participate in a beach obstacle course and rock-climbing wall challenge from 2-7 p.m. at East Beach. The cost to participate in each challenge is $5, with all proceeds benefitting The Boot Campaign – a nonprofit that brings awareness and raises funds to support military and veteran programs.

All East Beach re-opening festivities will take place surrounding the new pavilion, which is located on the east side of the park. The new pavilion replaced the park's original pavilion, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

East Beach's new entertainment stage and boardwalk will be home to a free concert series this summer with bands playing from 1-4 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Sundays in May through September.